Iris Koh, the founder of anti-vaccine group Healing the Divide in Singapore, was denied bail in the High Court, as the prosecution revealed that at least 20 patients were involved in an alleged vaccination fraud conspiracy that she has been charged with.

Koh, 46, was charged on January 25 with conspiring with general practitioner Jipson Quah to make false representations to the Ministry of Health that unvaccinated people were given the Sinopharm vaccine, when they were not.

On January 31 prosecutors, in arguing against Koh’s bid to be granted bail, said at least 20 patients were involved in the alleged conspiracy, and that ongoing investigations had revealed offences relating to remote pre-event testing and false vaccine exemption letters.

The prosecution said Koh had been uncooperative since her arrest on January 21, which had delayed police investigations.

Koh tore up a police statement on her fifth day in remand as well as the charge that was read to her on January 25, in what the judge said was “blatant disrespect for the investigative and court processes”.

She also repeatedly complained of anxiety and panic attacks, but refused medical attention.

Justice Vincent Hoong agreed with the prosecutors that Koh’s lack of cooperation with police investigators contributed to the need to remand her for investigations.

Justice Hoong said: “The consequent delays to investigations are no doubt caused by her active and deliberate attempts to frustrate those very investigations.”

He noted that her “belligerence, obstructive behaviour and lack of cooperation with investigations” during the initial period of remand was “appalling”.

The judge said Koh’s application for bail was “wholly devoid of merit”, noting that she had been charged with a non-bailable offence and the onus was on her to provide evidence to satisfy the court.

Koh’s lawyer Clarence Lun had raised Koh’s medical condition – hyperthyroidism – as a factor to support her application.

Justice Hoong noted that Koh had been assessed to be fit for discharge from Singapore General Hospital, and is scheduled for a biopsy procedure in two to three weeks.

During the hearing held via video conference, Koh, who was muted, could be seen raising her hand and appeared to be speaking but was ignored by the judge, who noted that she had legal representation.

Deputy public prosecutor Jiang Ke-yue told the court that the police had been accommodating to Koh and offered medical attention where necessary, but the evidence showed that she was not cooperating.

THE STRAITS TIMES (SINGAPORE)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK